The ULI Arizona Women’s Leadership Initiative is pleased to spotlight a unique, grassroots collaborative effort with diversity at its core, the South Central Collaborative (S.CC), with plans to host an education and outreach equitable transit oriented development program with them later this year.

The South Central Collaborative

The S.CC is a robust consortium of key partners throughout the South Central Corridor, evolving from its founding members’ participation with  the City of Phoenix Transportation 2050 (T2050) Plan. The original S.CC members helped lead the “MovePHX” initiative  increasing the Phoenix transit tax solidifying  local funding for the South Central Light Rail Project.

After MovePHX passed in August 2015, S.CC partners immediately went to work analyzing the South Central Light Rail Project’s Environmental Assessment and recommending changes to mitigate potential negative community impacts.

Working with Congressman Ed Pastor and Councilwoman Kate Gallego, S.CC and founding partner Raza Development Fund secured a letter of support from Senator John McCain and community leaders for a $2.5M Federal Transit Administration / City of Phoenix Transit Oriented Development and Business Assistance Grant.

At its core, the S.CC provides a forum for diverse leaders in emerging communities (South Phoenix – Central City South – Warehouse District) to share expertise and resources and build partnerships that ensure the outcome of the South Central Light Rail Project is a neighborhood enhancement project and responds directly to the community’s needs. Working closely with a variety of stakeholders, the S.CC models a rare and dynamic form of communication, collaboration, and partnership.

The S.CC works with its government partners to improve public processes by putting the voice and desires of the community front and center. Its partners have a wealth of public, private, and community advocacy expertise. Working together, they have launched numerous initiatives that are tackling South Central displacement and gentrification challenges; implementing context-sensitive light rail design and construction processes; preserving, protecting, and promoting arts and culture; and empowering community members and leaders to implement workforce development and wealth-building opportunities that benefit existing South Central residents and business owners.

Ultimately, S.CC strives to ensure the $1.3 billion Light Rail Project benefits the community by keeping the financial resources and resulting economic impact in the South Central Corridor for the use and enjoyment of the people who have made Central City South and South Phoenix their home for many generations.

The Transit-Oriented Development Plan

In 2016 the City of Phoenix received a federal grant to develop a community-based master plan and business assistance effort to support local businesses along five square miles of the South Central Light Rail extension.

In 2018, the city contracted Promise Arizona + Gould Evans along with six other local nonprofit organizations and professional firms to develop a locally defined Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan with national significance in its goals to develop without displacement, provide assistance for local businesses potentially affected by light rail construction, and to create a vibrant, equitable future for the residents in the South Central corridor.

The result of a robust community engagement effort and education campaign, plus the work of the City appointing a TOD Steering Committee of community leaders through 2021, informed the Community plan that promotes neighborhood-specific redevelopment around transit stations that reflects the community’s diverse needs and expectations.

With information from the Transit-Oriented Planning & Business Assistance Team, information provided by the City of Phoenix Planning Department, and input from community feedback at monthly meetings, the TOD Steering Committee drafted the initial South Central TOD Community Plan in 2021. After minor revisions, the plan was approved by the TOD Steering Committee to be presented at the South Mountain and Central City Village Planning Committee meetings for approval. In January 2022, the South Central TOD Community Plan was approved by both Village Planning Committees and is moving toward a presentation for final approval by the Phoenix City Council, possibly as soon as March 2022.

Stay Engaged and Next steps

The Phoenix City Council will vote on the South Central TOD Community Plan this Spring.

For more information on the project, partners, and links to additional resources, visit Planning and Development South Central TOD (phoenix.gov). 

“This experience has been one of the most challenging yet most rewarding experiences of my public service. During this time, we listened to the fears of the residents and businesses, heard their excitement for the opportunities that could come, and saw the hope in the spirits of these communities. This Community Plan should help guide the changes so that these resilient communities truly benefit, while embracing the diversity of newcomers and new ideas. It will only be successful with long-term commitment, collaboration and cooperation of residents, businesses, non-profits organizations, government entities, and all interested stakeholders. This truly could be a model for change.”

—Eva Ordonez Olivas, Executive Director – Phoenix Revitalization Corporation